Fastener for blinds or shutters.



FASTENER FOR BLINES OIR SHUTTERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 6, 19.17.

Application filed Octoberl, 1916. Serial No. 125,890,

To au whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, SYM/'ANUS C. Evans,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence, Stateof Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fasteners for Blinds or Shutters, of which the following is a specification.

' My invention is an improved fasteningdevice for holding shutters, blinds or the like in open and closed position. rPhe ob- 'ject of my improvement is to provide a sim-v ple and efiicient fastener for this purpose adapted for economical manufacture and more convenient to operate and more reliable in use.

The manner and means for carrying out the improvement are fully described in the following specification, illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate like parts; In the drawings Figure l is a side elevation of a portion of a window-blind showing my improved fastener applied to use in connection therewith;

Fig. 2, a plan view of the fastening-device illustrating the position of the blind in relation thereto by dash-lines;

Fig. 3, a plan view of the latch-plate for the fastener; and

Fig. 4, a'sectional view of the same taken on the line 1 -4 of Fig. 3.

Referring first to Fig. 1, B designates a conventional form of blind or shutter mounted to swing back and forth in relation to the window by means of the usual hinges L. My improved fastening-device comprises essentially a spring-latch L fastened to the under side of the blind B and arranged to coperate with a single latch-plate or holding-means P for securing the blind in either open or closed position.

Preferably, the latch L is constructed from wire possessing the required spring-temper and is bent at one end in the form of a loop or eye e, see 2. The wire is then coiled on itself at c, to form a spring element to provide the desired resiliency, and thence eX-l tends in a straight arm a. At the extremity of the arm a the wire is formed into a rectangular loop Z with its end bent around the main portion at l7' to joint it thereto. A screw s is inserted through the eye e to secure the latch L to the under side of the blind B, as shown in Fig. 1,' and a staple S is driven into place straddling the outer end of its arm a to guide'its movement,

yReferring' particularly to Figs. 3 and 4l, the latch-plete P is of Substantially rectangular outline,`cut away at its centerto save metal and lighten its weight, and 'formed with a depending tiene@ f en, its ander Side through which it is fastened to the windowframe by means of the screws d. The upper side of the plate P is preferably rounded or beveled off along its edgesas shown at p, p, to adapt the end of the latch L to slide thereover, and formed lin these'faces are two U- shaped depressions or grooves g, g. The grooves g and g are shaped to receive the end and side of the rectangular loop-portion Z of the latch L when the blind is in open or closed position as illustrated in Fig. 2.

In Fig. l the full lines represent the blind B closed against the window-frame and in this position the end of the latch L will seat in the groove g of the plate P. When it is desired to open the blind it is only necessary to raise the end of the latch L against its spring-tension to release it from the groove g. The blind can then be swung back against the side of the building and the latch L will ride across the top of the plate P until the side of its loop Z seats itself automatically in the groove g', see dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. To close the blind the above described operation is reversed and in each instance the blind is automatically locked in the position to which it is moved.

It will be observed that my improved fastener comprises essentially only two parts, the latch and its locking-plate, whereas in the usual arrangement it is necessary to employ a locking-member or catch for both the open and closed position of the blind.

Through the present arrangement I eliminate the use of one fitting besides avoiding the attaching and vadjustment of the eXtra catch. Another feature of improvement in the present device is the arrangement of the catch or locking-plate within easy access of lthev window-opening so that in closing the blind it is not necessary to reach clear out to its end to unlatch it. In other words, the latch is more convenient to operate both in the closed and open position of the blind.

In addition, the two main parts of the device are so simple as to allow for their economical manufacture, therebyproviding for an exceedingly small cost for the whole fitting. My improved fastener also provides a more secure and reliable look for the blind and one less liable to derangeinent or getting out of order.

What I claim is l. In a fastener for Window-blinds, shutters or the like, the combination of a substantially flat latch-plate formed with beveled edges with U-shaped grooves therein, and a wire spring-latch adapted to be fastened to the luider side of the blind and provided Witli a rectangular loop having its side and end arranged to seat iii the grooves of the latchplate when the blind is in either open or closed position.

2. In a fastener for Window-blinds, sliiitters or the like, the combination of a substantially fiat latch-plate formed with U- shaped grooves on its upper face and provided with a flange for fastening it to the side of the building, and a Wire spring-latch formed With an eye for fastening it to the under side of the blind and provided at its end with a rectangular loop adapted to slide across the face of the latch-plate and to seat in the grooves thereof to look the blind in either open or Closed position.

In testimony whereof l aix iny signature.

SYLVANUS C. EVASVS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

` Washington, D. C. 

